Malacanang open to moving school opening to
September
Malacanang said on Sunday that it was open to
the proposal moving the school opening from June to September, saying this was
in line with the preparation of the creation of an ASEAN Integration in 2015.
In a radio interview aired over government run
radio dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communication and Operation Secretary
Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. said that this proposal was also in line with the
advocacy of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) of ASEAN mobility
which aims to provide easier travel of people within the region.
“Bukas ang pamahalaan sa pag-aaral ng panukalang
ilipat ang panahon ng pagbubukas ng klase para sa mga kolehiyo at unibersidad,
mula Hunyo patungong Setyembre, bilang paghahanda sa pag-iisa ng ating mga
kasaping bansa sa ASEAN sa ilalim ng konsepto ng ASEAN integration simula sa
taong 2015,” Coloma said.
“Layunin din ng panukalang ito ang pagtugon ng
ating bansa sa panawagang bigyang-daan ang ASEAN mobility, o ang malayang
paglalakbay ng mga mamamayan sa bansang ASEAN upang mag-aral sa mga paaralang
may internasyonal na orientasyon, at upang magamit ang kanilang mga kakayahan o
talento sa iba’t ibang larangang propesyonal,” he added.
He however stressed the importance of having to
further study this proposal in order to come to a fruitful decision on the
matter.
“Ipinauubaya ng pamahalaan sa Kongreso, bilang
kapantay at independiyenteng sangay, ang pangunguna sa pagkilos sa paglipat sa
schedule ng pagbubukas ng klase dahil ito ay napapaloob sa batas,” Coloma said.
“Sa kasalukuyan patuloy na tatalima ang
pamahalaan sa pangunguna ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa isinasaad ng batas
tungkol sa itinatakdang panahon ng pagbubukas ng klase,” he added. PND (rck)
Palace: Additional SSS, Philhealth contributions
studied carefully
The higher contribution rates for the Social
Security System and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) had been
carefully studied and are within the bounds of the law, Malacañang maintained
Sunday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the increase is minimal and
affordable, and will bring greater benefits to the people.
"Malinaw po sa pagpapahayag natin na ang
kinauukulang pagtaas sa kontribusyon ng SSS at PhilHealth ay: 1) produkto po ng
masusing pag-aaral at konsultasyon; 2) tinimbang po at tiniyak na hindi
magiging masyadong mabigat, bagkus ito ay magaan at kayang pasanin ng mga
kinauukulan; at 3) ito po ay nagreresulta sa mas makabuluhang mga benepisyo
para sa mga kasapi ng SSS at PhilHealth (It is clear that the higher
contributions for SSS and PhilHealth are the result of a thorough study to make
sure they will not be a burden on members, and will result in greater benefits
for members)," he said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Because of this, he said the government has no
plan to stop implementing the higher contributions.
Starting January, the SSS and PhilHealth has
started collecting higher contributions from members, even as some sectors
complained about the adjustment.
When asked if government plans to stop
implementing the adjustment, Coloma said: "Batay po iyan sa masusing
pag-aaral, naaayon din po sa batas, wala pong planong ipatigil iyan dahil sa
mga kadahilanang nabanggit na rin sa aking pahayag (The move was based on
thorough studies and is within the law. There is no plan to stop it)."
He also reiterated the higher contributions are
in the context of social protection, where the proceeds are to benefit the
poor.
Coloma noted PhilHealth presently covers 80
percent of the population, including four million poor families availing of the
conditional cash transfer program.
He said the four million families are considered
sponsored members and are not covered by the higher rate.
On the other hand, he said employees and
individually paying members and overseas Filipino workers can afford the higher
contribution, which he said amounts to P200 from the previous P100 - or an
increase of just P3 a day.
Such contributions entitle members to access to
health services in 85 public hospitals nationwide, he added.
"Kaya dapat pong unawain ang konteksto
nitong mga social protection program na tinuring natin, dalawa na nga po diyan
‘yung PhilHealth at SSS contribution (We should understand the context of the
social protection program as far as the SSS and PhilHealth are
concerned)," he said.
As for the SSS contributions, Coloma said the
increase in contributions is needed to prevent the agency's funds from drying
up.
"Sa sandaling maubos ang pondo ng SSS,
buong sambayanan ang siyang babalikat ng mga pangangailangan ng mga pensyonado
dahil sa garantiya ng pamahalaan (Once the SSS' funds are depleted, all
Filipinos have to shoulder the costs of pension because the pensions are
guaranteed by the government)," he said.
Coloma also said the increase in premium or
employee/employer contribution to the SSS starting Jan. 1 amounts to 0.6
percent of the monthly contributions.
This will bring down by P166 billion the
unfunded liabilities of the SSS, which had amounted to P1.078 trillion, he
added.
Also, Coloma said the adjustment stemmed from
consultations with traders' groups including the Employers' Confederation of
the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Trade Union
Congress of the Philippines.
Because of this, he said the maximum daily
allowance for illness will go up by P30, from P450 to P480.
He also said the maximum daily allowance of
maternity benefits will go up by P33 from P500 to P533 daily.
As for retirement pensions, he said members who
contributed for 10 years under the P6,000 maximum salary credit may get a P400
increase in their monthly pensions.
Those who contributed 40 years using the maximum
salary credit are entitled to an P800 increase in monthly pension, he added.
PND (jl)
Palace: Government working to ensure
brownout-free summer
This early, the government is working to ensure
there will be no power outages during the hot summer months, Malacañang said
Sunday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the Department of Energy is
coordinating with stakeholders to ensure a stable power supply.
"Hindi po pwedeng mapahintulutan yung
pagkakaroon ng malawakan o madalas na brownout dahil magiging masama po ang
epekto nito sa ating ekonomiya. Kaya makatitiyak po tayo na patuloy na
tinututukan ng ating Department of Energy ang sitwasyon (We cannot allow
widespread or frequent power outages because it will be bad for the economy. We
can expect the DOE to continue monitoring the situation)," Coloma said on
state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
He said the DOE is working with the concerned
stakeholders to balance the power supply and demand to address possible power
outages.
Meanwhile, Coloma reiterated the government is
open to concrete proposals that will protect consumers from unjust power rate
hikes.
He said the government is open to a study of the
12-year-old Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)'s provisions.
"Pagkatapos ng lampas sa 12 taong pag-iral
ng batas, napapanahon nang suriin ang mga probisyon ng batas upang tanggalin
ang mga nakikitang kahinaan nito, at palitan ng mga bagong atas na naaayon sa
kapakanan ng sambayanan (After more than 12 years it is time to study the
provisions of the law and replace its weak points with provisions that will
benefit the people)," he said. PND (jl)
Palace: 100M Philippine population a challenge
and an opportunity
The prospect of the Philippine population
reaching the 100-million mark presents both a challenge and an opportunity for
the country, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the Philippine Development Plan aims
to make sure all Filipinos benefit from the nation's growth.
"Iyan po ay isang hamon at isa rin pong
pagkakataon dahil ang tao po ang pinakamahalagang bumubuo ng anumang lipunan.
Yan po ang balanseng pagtanaw natin sa sitwasyon na ‘yan (It is both a
challenge and an opportunity because people are the most important resource.
That is our balanced view of the situation)," he said on state-run dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
He said the Philippine Development Plan is
geared for inclusive growth, to make sure all Filipinos benefit from economic
growth.
Coloma also pointed out a large part of the
budget for 2014 is geared for social protection and social welfare and
development.
"Karamihan ng mga Pilipino hindi po dapat
maipwera o mailagay sa isantabi ang nakararami (The majority of Filipinos
should not be left out of any growth)," he said. PND (jl)
Government remains committed to giving justice
to Atimonan massacre victims' kin
Malacañang on Sunday assured relatives of last
year's Atimonan massacre that the government continues to work to make sure
they get justice, one year after the incident.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said administrative and prosecution
actions are being implemented to this end.
"Gagawin po ang mga kinakailangan sa
larangan ng administrative at prosecution actions sa hanay po ng lahat ng mga
concerned government agency para po magawaran ng katarungan ang mga naiwan ng
mga nasawi sa kaganapang yan (All concerned government agencies are
implementing all administrative and prosecution actions to ensure the victims'
kin get justice)," Coloma said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
In early January last year, 13 people were
killed after police and military personnel at a checkpoint in Atimonan town
reportedly fired on their vehicles.
Families of the 13 victims appealed to the
Aquino administration to speed up the resolution of the case and punish the
guilty.
Later last year, the Department of Justice
charged 13 law enforcers with multiple murder for the killing. PND (jl)
Palace to respect visits by allies, critics to
former President Arroyo
Malacañang on Sunday said it will respect the
visits to former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo by her allies and
critics.
But Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. maintained the issue of the recent
visits to Mrs. Arroyo is not a priority for the administration.
"Kung ano po ang naging pahayag nila ay
iginagalang po natin ang lahat ng mga nagpahayag na iyan. Pero sa amin po,
hindi po yan ang prayoridad na pinag-uukulan ng pansin, sapagkat marami pong
mahahalagang usapin sa ating bansa tulad po ‘nung agarang rehabilitasyon at
rekonstruksyon para sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad ng ‘Yolanda’ at sa Zamboanga,
pati po doon sa Bohol earthquake at ‘yung ‘Santi’ (We respect whatever Mrs.
Arroyo's visitors said but that is not our priority. We are busy with the
rehabilitation of areas affected by recent cyclones like Yolanda and Santi, and
by the fighting in Zamboanga City and the Bohol quake)," Coloma said on
state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
He also said the government is busy pursuing
reforms and implementing the Philippine Development Plan.
Over the weekend, some of Mrs. Arroyo's allies
and critics visited her at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Mrs. Arroyo has been under hospital arrest since
December 2011, on charges of electoral sabotage. She now faces plunder charges
as well.
Coloma maintained that while the Aquino
administration has no ill will toward Mrs. Arroyo, it maintains the need to
adhere to the accountability process. PND (jl)
